A palace source told AFP news agency that Nothando Dube,(also known as Inkhosikati LaDube) the king’s 12th wife, would dress in a military uniform to slip out of the palace and meet Mamba in a hotel room.

Mamba is a childhood friend of Mswati. The king was on a visit to Taiwan at the time, but they were discovered by military intelligence agents, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

‘For many months the inkhosikati (queen) would dress in an army uniform whenever the king was not around,’ the source said.

‘She allegedly got into her room and changed into her uniform and walked straight to the gate and no one bothered to ask where was this soldier going. In no time a car was there to pick the “officer” up and whisked her to Royal Villas about 10 kilometres west of the Lozitha Palace,’ the source added.

The Royal Villas is a hotel.

Mamba could now be expelled from Swaziland while Dube could be confined to her parents’ home. Both could also be fined a herd of cattle, the source added.